Vick Spencer, decked out in his red and black letterman’s jacket with the zero on the back, was holding court in the hallways of the Honda Center.

His son, Aztecs forward Skylar Spencer, was about to play in the biggest game of his basketball life against Arizona in the NCAA Sweet 16, and Dad was chatting up SDSU fans he’d never even met.

“This,” he told them, “is God’s gift. It’s a miracle.”

He wasn’t only talking about SDSU’s season of achievement beyond most expectations, put to an end on Thursday night with a 70-64 loss. His wife, Celia, was there to witness it all close to their home in Inglewood. In August, Spencer’s 56-year-old mom suffered a stroke and later pulmonary embolism that put her in a coma for two months.

Skylar was at her side for days in the hospital.

Celia emerged from her coma, began speaking and, against all odds, went home in November. Celia remains in a wheelchair while she re-learns to walk. Her speech is unimpaired, as are her memories of her inspirational son.

She became emotional when talking about spending a precious few days with Skyler when he visited over the Christmas holidays.

“I just cried and cried when he had to leave,” Celia said. “But even in that little bit of time he was there, he strengthened me. It made me feel so good in my heart.

“He’s just so good and positive about everything. He gave me the strength for what I have to do. I miss him so much when he’s gone. I love that kid like crazy.”

Celia Spencer said it was a blessing that her son chose to attend San Diego State and remain so close to home.

“I don’t know what we could have done if he was far away,” she said.

Vick Spencer, a retired firefighter, said of Skylar’s time at SDSU, where he is one of the team’s defensive catalysts, “We’re humbled that (coach) Steve Fisher saw his talent. I taught him to be focused. I told him never to talk bad to the referees. He doesn’t score a lot of baskets, but I don’t think there’s anybody on the team who works any harder.”

Skylar Spencer started the game for the Aztecs and contributed seven rebounds, two blocks and three points.

Accurate from the stripe

Neither team was considered particularly great at free-throw shooting, but in the end their efforts from the line didn’t hurt them. The Aztecs were 76 percent (19 of 25) on free throws – well above their season average of 66 percent. The Wildcats shot 78 percent (18 of 23) and were 80 percent in the second half. Arizona’s conversion rate during the season was 65 percent.

Thames keeps pace

To end his great senior season, Aztecs guard Xavier Thames finished with 25 points. That’s his sixth-highest point total in a campaign in which he scored more than 20 in 12 games. In the tournament, he scored 23, 30 and 25.

The Show travels

After the extremely dull first game, the crowd of 17,773 was loud and raucous in the Honda Center, with probably about 60 percent SDSU fans to 40 percent for Arizona. SDSU’s “The Show” student section didn’t get its usual seats behind the basket, and the students were dispersed throughout the arena, but the atmosphere was every bit as intense.

With a seat near the top, Kevin Hellman, of Clairemont Mesa, said he would have traveled anywhere to see the team play. He said he’s been a season ticket holder for 15 years, long before supporting Aztecs basketball came into vogue.

“I come from Louisiana, where sports is a big deal. And San Diego it’s not,” Hellman said. “This is going to change people’s minds. People have been bonding together who have never been to an Aztecs game, and everyone in town is watching this.”

Rodgers on bandwagon

A day after playing in the LPGA Kia Classic Pro-Am in Carlsbad, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was filmed celebrating with Wisconsin in its locker room after the Badgers’ victory over Baylor. The video was posted on the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel website.

Rodgers wasn’t wearing red, but a gray-striped pullover with a dark gray baseball cap. Colorblind? Or maybe full garb was too much for a California boy and Berkeley grad.